Dispenser for products in sheet form

ABSTRACT

A dispenser for rolls of flexible sheet material, each of the rolls having spindle elements extending axially outwardly beyond the ends thereof, wherein a first roll is located in a dispensing position. Alternatively, a second roll may be located in a reserve position. The dispenser further includes a stub roll position arranged to receive a first roll exhausted to a predetermined extent. Retaining elements are arranged on both sides of the stub roll position to support the spindle elements inserted into each end of a roll, wherein the retaining elements arranged for simultaneous release of the spindle elements when the dispenser is opened.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a dispenser for rolls of web-shapedmaterial, such as paper and non-woven sheets, said dispenser comprisinga housing having at its bottom part an outlet opening for the web-shapedmaterial and a space for at least two rolls. A first part of the spaceis located adjacent the outlet opening and is intended for a first rollin a dispensing, or use position and a second part of the space may beprovided for keeping the second roll in a standby position. The firstpart is provided with holding means cooperating with spindle means inthe first roll in order to support the roll in the dispensing position.When the first roll is nearly exhausted it is released and displacedinto a stub roll position, in which retaining means for the spindlemeans are provided.

BACKGROUND ART

Dispensers for multiple rolls of web-shaped material, such as paper andnon-woven sheets, are often provided with a stub roll position in whicha substantially exhausted roll is located. When the stub roll iscompletely exhausted the remaining spindle means or core means maysimply be released from the dispenser. This is often the case when rollsare provided with separate spindle means inserted into the ends of aroll or when split core rolls are used. A dispenser of this type isknown from U.S. Pat. No. 3,437,388 showing a roll dispenser for splitcore rolls.

A problem with these solutions is that the spent spindle means or corehalves are allowed to drop out of the dispenser onto the floor, causinga litter problem. This can also create additional, unnecessary work formaintenance staff that must search the floor for spent spindle means orcore halves.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,032 describes a dispenser provided with a containerfor receiving spent residual roll elements. According to this solutionspent roll elements are allowed to drop out of a dispensing positioninto the container for later removal.

A problem with this type of dispenser is that a spent roll element maybe caught or wedged in the dispensing position, preventing a reserveroll from reaching the dispensing position and causing a malfunction ofthe dispenser. Additionally, a separate container or space for storingspent spindle means or cores must be provided inside the lower end ofthe dispenser. Because the dispensed web is usually removed through anopening at the bottom of the dispenser, such a container may obstructthe user's access to the web. This makes this particular solutionunsuitable for dispensers with rolls mounted on horizontal axes at rightangles to a wall supporting the dispenser.

The above problems are solved by a dispenser according to the invention,which dispenser provides an improved arrangement for handling not onlyseparate spindle means, but also spindles mounted in split or solidcores.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The object of the invention is achieved by a dispenser for rolls offlexible sheet material according to the invention, having thecharacteristic features defined in the appended claims.

According to one embodiment, the invention relates to a dispenser forrolls of flexible sheet material, each of said rolls having spindlemeans extending axially outwardly beyond the ends thereof, wherein afirst roll is located in a dispensing position. A second roll maypreferably, but not necessarily, be located in a reserve position abovesaid dispensing position. The dispenser further comprises a stub rollposition arranged to receive a first roll exhausted to a predeterminedextent. A sensor means may be provided to monitor the diameter of theroll and release it from the dispensing position, from which it may bedisplaced into the stub roll position. The spindle means may cooperatewith a pair of guide slots connecting the dispensing position and thestub roll position to direct the downwards movement of the first roll.Retaining means may be arranged on both sides of the stub roll positionto support the spindle means inserted into each end of a roll, whereinthe retaining means arranged for simultaneous, or substantiallysimultaneous release of the spindle means when the dispenser is opened.Depending on the location of a means cooperating with the cover forreleasing the spindle means, the spindle means may be released at anysuitable time between the unlocking of the cover and the cover beingcompletely opened. Preferably the cover should be opened sufficiently tocatch the spindle means in the cover when they are released.

When the nearly exhausted first roll is released from the dispensingposition it may be displaced towards the stub roll position under theinfluence of gravity, by a user pulling the web, by a reserve rollcoming into contact with the first roll while moving into the dispensingposition, or by a combination of one or more of these actions. Theretaining means are arranged to rotatably support the spindle means ofthe roll located in the stub roll position both during removal of thelast web section and after the roll has been exhausted.

In order to support the roll the retaining means and the spindle meansare provided with cooperating interlocking surfaces. The retaining meansmay comprise a keyed slot having a cross-sectional shape correspondingat least in part to an axial cross-sectional shape of the spindle means.According to one example, the retaining means comprises a keyed slotarranged to support a spindle means provided with an axially outer,enlarged section. Preferably the outer section of the spindle means hasa rotation symmetrical shape with a relatively larger diameter, and anaxially inner, cylindrical section, has a relatively smaller diameter.The outer section may have a substantially conical shape with its apexfacing the said inner section. Such a substantially conical outersection may preferably, but not necessarily, be provided with acylindrical end section. A suitable type of spindle means is describedin the international patent application no. WO 2006/050043 which ishereby incorporated by reference. However, the dispenser according tothe invention may also use spindles having fixed outer ends, providingthat the shape of said ends may cooperate with the said guide slots andcatches. Although an outer, substantially conical section is preferred,other shapes such as a hemispherical or cylindrical are also possible.At least one retaining means may comprise a catch resiliently held incontact with a circumferential surface of the end section of a spindlemeans. According to a preferred example, the catch may be arranged on apivotable lever with a pivot joint having an axis parallel to the axisof the roll. A resilient means such as a spring may hold the catch in aspring loaded, active position to act as a brake on the spindle means inthe stub roll position. According to an alternative example, a catch maybe provided on either side of the stub roll in order to assist inretaining the spindle means when the stub roll has been exhausted.

The retaining means may comprise a pivotable lever located on eitherside of the stub roll position. In order to ensure simultaneous releaseof the spindle means, the levers may be connected by a transverse barparallel to the roll axis. The transverse bar is preferably, but notnecessarily, arranged to coincide with the pivot axis of the pivotablelever. The retaining means may be arranged to release the spindle meanswhen a dispenser cover is moved from a closed to an open position. Thecover comprises a front, side and upper surfaces and may be removed bytilting an upper end of the cover outwards and downwards, about a pivotaxis through a lower section of the side surfaces of the dispenser. Thelever adjacent the front of the dispenser may be provided with a contactsurface that is in contact with and supported by an inner side surfaceof the dispenser cover. When the cover is opened beyond a predeterminedangle, the contact surface on the lever will disengage the cover,allowing the lever to pivot away from the stub roll position. Thismovement will also disengage the retaining means from the spindle meansin order to release them. The levers may be arranged to be actuatedunder the influence of gravity, as the centre of gravity of the leversis located to one side of a vertical plane through the pivot axis of thelevers. Alternatively, a resilient means, such as a resilient tongue onthe lever, may bias the levers and the contact surface into contact withthe inner surface of the cover when closed. As soon as the cover isopened, the resilient means may initiate the pivoting movement of thelevers to release the spindle means. The keyed slots in the leversmaking up the retaining means may be substantially hook- or J-shaped. Asthe levers are pivoted the spindle means will automatically fall out ofthe slots, whereby the spindle means will drop down into and be caughtby the opened cover.

According to a preferred embodiment, the spindle means comprisesseparate adapters inserted into each end of a roll. If the adapters areinserted into each end of a coreless roll, the retaining means will keepthe spindle means from dropping out of the roll dispenser until thecover is opened for re-filling. Similarly, if the spindle meanscomprises adapters inserted into each end of a roll provided with asplit core, the spindle means and both halves of the core will beretained in the dispenser. Although not primarily intended for rolls ofthe said type, the dispenser may also be operated using adaptersinserted into each end of a roll with a solid core or a spindle meanscomprising a pair of adapters joined by an axle or similar arrangedalong the central axis of a roll. Alternatively, the spindle means maycomprise adapters adhesively attached to each end of a coreless orsolids roll. In this way it is possible to prevent the spindle meansfrom an exhausted roll from dropping out of the dispenser and litteringthe floor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the following text, the invention will be described in detail withreference to the attached drawings. These schematic drawings are usedfor illustration only and do not in any way limit the scope of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective front view of a dispenser according to afirst embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective rear view of the dispenser in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the retaining mechanism in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of a pivotable lever along the section X-Xin FIG. 3.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a dispenser according to a firstembodiment of the invention. In the subsequent text the terms “inner”and “outer” are used to denote the position of components in relation toa rear section R, unless otherwise indicated. The rear section R isintended to be mounted on a wall or a similar vertical or near verticalsurface. In the examples described below, the rolls are placed in thedispenser with their axes at substantially right angles to the rearsection R of the wall mounted dispenser. The dispenser is primarilyintended for coreless rolls having central spindle means S₁, S₂ insertedinto the ends of the roll and extending axially outwardly beyond theends of the roll. The dispenser comprises a cover 1 (indicated indash-dotted lines) with a front surface 2, an upper surface 3 and a pairof side surfaces 4, 5. The cover 1 is opened by folding the entire coverforwards, from the position indicated by dash-dotted lines, anddownwards to the position shown. The cover 1 is pivoted about a pair ofpivot joints 6, 7 located at the lower edge of the respective sidesurfaces 4, 5 on either side of the dispenser. The dispenser 1 ismounted to a substantially vertical surface by means of a rear sectionR. A tear means T is arranged around the lower edges of the dispenser,which tear means T is attached to the lower edge of a frame 8 mounted onthe rear section R. The dispenser is arranged for receiving two rolls A,B (indicated with dashed lines) which are inserted at the top of thedispenser by locating the spindle means in relation to converging guidesurfaces 11, 12 in the rear section R and in the frame 8 mounted ontothe rear section and extending outwards to substantially envelop therolls A, B at the front of the dispenser. The frame 8 is open at the topto allow inserting of rolls and open at the bottom to allow removal ofweb material. Guide slots 14, 15 are provided in the rear section R andthe inner surface of the frame 8, respectively, to guide the rolls A, Bfrom a reserve position 17 down through the dispenser into a dispensingposition 16 as indicated by the respective spindles S₁, S₂ in FIG. 1.

The dispenser is provided with an automatic roll changing mechanismcomprising a first sensor means 21 for determining that the first roll Alocated in the dispensing position 16 is nearly exhausted, a first catch22 for supporting the first roll A in a dispensing position, a secondsensor means 23 for determining that the first roll has been releasedfrom the dispensing position, and a second catch 24 for supporting thesecond roll B in the reserve position 17. In the dispenser shown in FIG.1, identical first sensors and first catches are located on both sidesof the first roll A in the rear section R and the inner surface of theframe 8 respectively. The second sensor and the second catch arepreferably, but not necessarily, provided on one side only. When thefirst roll A is released it will move downwards to a stub roll position25.

In operation, spring loaded, roll change initiating first sensor means21 will start to move when the first roll A has been reduced to acertain pre-determined diameter. The sensor movement will cause a pairof first catches 22 supporting the first roll A in the dispensingposition 16 in the dispenser to be moved out of contact with theirspindle means S1 or roll support adapter. The first roll A still has asmall amount of paper left and under the influence of gravity and/or theuser pulling the paper, the roll A will move to the stub roll position25. In the stub roll position 25 the paper will be removed until theroll A is completely exhausted. When the first roll A moves towards thestub roll position 25 a second spring loaded sensor means 23 will beactuated. Actuation of the second sensor means 23 will cause the secondcatch 24 to release the second roll B from the reserve position 17. Whenreleased, the second roll B will move under the influence of gravity totake its place in the dispensing position 16. As the second roll B movesinto the dispensing position, the end surfaces of the roll willsimultaneously displace the first sensors 21 outwards against a springload into contact with the respective end surfaces of the second roll Band move the first catches into contact with their respective spindle S2means.

In this way paper is always available on the first roll A during theroll change. The relatively small first roll A needs to be moved awayfrom the regular dispensing position 16 to leave space for the new,second roll B, allowing it to drop into position. The first roll A maybe moved to its stub roll position by gravity, by pull force from paperthat is removed by a user, or by a combination of both. To ensure thatthe first roll A is correctly located in the stub roll position 25, thesecond roll B may also push the first roll A into the stub roll position25 just before reaching its dispensing position 16. When this occurs,sufficient inertia is transferred to the first or stub roll A to push itinto the sub roll position 25. At the same time, the speed of the secondroll is reduced, resulting in a relatively soft landing of the new rollin the dispensing position.

The stub roll is held in the stub roll position 25 by a retainingmechanism 26 that ensures that the inner and outer spindles S₁ remain inthe dispenser when the web is exhausted. The retaining mechanism 26 isshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and comprises inner and outer pivotable levers27, 28 located on both sides of the stub roll. FIG. 2 shows aperspective rear view of the frame and the dispenser cover. In order toensure simultaneous release of the spindle means, the levers 27, 28 areconnected by a transverse bar 29 parallel to the roll axis. Thetransverse bar 29 is arranged to coincide with the pivot axis of thepivotable levers 27, 28. The retaining mechanism 26 is arranged torelease the spindle means when the dispenser cover 1 is moved from aclosed to an open position. As described above, the cover 1 comprises apair of side surfaces 4, 5 and can be removed by tilting an upper end ofthe cover outwards and downwards, about a pair of pivot joints 6, 7through a lower section of the side surfaces of the dispenser. The outerlever 28 (see FIG. 2) adjacent the front 2 of the dispenser is providedwith a contact surface in the form of a projection 30 that is in contactwith and supported by an inner side surface 5 of the dispenser cover 1.When the cover 1 is opened beyond a predetermined angle, the projection30 on the lever 28 will disengage the side surface 5, allowing thelevers 27, 28 to pivot away from the stub roll position 25. The levers27, 28 are arranged to be actuated under the influence of gravity, asthe centre of gravity of the levers 27, 28 is located to one side of avertical plane through the pivot axis of the levers. Additionally, aresilient means in the form of a resilient tongue 31 on the outer lever28 will bias the levers 27, 28 and the projection 30 into contact withthe inner surface of the side surface 5 of the cover 1 when closed. Theresilient tongue 31 is integrated in the outer lever 28 and has a freeend in contact with a stop 32 on the inner side of the frame 8. When thecover 1 is being closed, the resilient tongue 31 will be deformed as itsfree end contacts the stop 32 during continued pivoting of the levers27, 28. As soon as the cover 1 is opened beyond a predetermined angle,the resilient tongue 31 will initiate the pivoting movement of thelevers 27, 28 to release the spindle means.

FIG. 3 shows a retaining mechanism according to the invention, whereinthe mechanism is shown mounted in the rear section R of the dispenser.The retaining mechanism is provided with keyed slots 33, 34 in thelevers 27, 28 which slots are substantially hook- or J-shaped. As thecover is opened, the levers 27, 28 are pivoted about the transverse bar29 and the spindle means will automatically fall out of the keyed slots33, 34 as the J-shaped slots are tilted downwards. The spindle meanswill be released through exit slots 35, 36 and drop down into and becaught by the opened cover 1.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of a lever along the section X-X in FIG. 3.In order to support the roll, the levers 27 and the spindle means S₁ areprovided with cooperating interlocking surfaces. Both levers 27, 28comprise a keyed slot having a cross-section corresponding to an axialcross-section of a spindle means. According to the example shown in FIG.4, the retaining means comprises a keyed slot arranged to support anaxially extending spindle 41 on the spindle means S₁. The spindle 41 isprovided with an axially outer, conical section 42, having a relativelylarger diameter, and an axially inner, cylindrical section 43, having arelatively smaller diameter. Although an outer conical section ispreferred, other shapes such as a hemispherical or cylindrical are alsopossible. At least one retaining means 44 mounted on the lever 27 (seeFIG. 2) may comprise a catch 45 resiliently held in contact with acircumferential surface of the cylindrical end of the substantiallyconical section 42 of the spindle means S₁. According this example, thecatch 45 is arranged on the pivotable lever 27 with a pivot joint 46having an axis parallel to the axis of the transverse bar 29. Resilientmeans in the form of a spring 47 holds a contact surface 48 on the catch45 in contact with the cylindrical surface 43 of the spindle. Thismaintains the catch 45 in a spring loaded, active position to act as abrake to prevent free rotation of the roll during dispensing. At thesame time, a roll moving into the stub roll position 25 is allowed todisplace the lever 27 against the action of the spring 47. The retainingmeans 44 can be mounted on the levers on either or both sides of thestub roll.

According to the preferred embodiment described above, the spindle meanscomprises separate adapters inserted into each end of a roll. If theadapters are inserted into each end of a coreless roll, the retainingmeans will keep the spindle means from dropping out of the rolldispenser until the cover is opened for re-filling. Similarly, if thespindle means comprises adapters inserted into each end of a rollprovided with a split core, the spindle means and both halves of thecore will be retained in the dispenser. Although not primarily intendedfor such rolls, the dispenser may also be operated using adaptersinserted into each end of a roll with a solid core. In this way it ispossible to prevent the spindle means from an exhausted roll fromdropping out of the dispenser until the dispenser is opened.

The invention is not limited to the above examples, but may be variedfreely within the scope of the claims.

1. A dispenser for rolls of flexible sheet material, each of said rollshaving ends and spindle means inserted into each end of said rollsthereof with axially extending portions extending axially outwardlybeyond the ends of said rolls, one of said rolls comprising a first rollwherein the first roll is located in a dispensing position, thedispenser comprising a stub roll position arranged to receive the firstroll after the first roll has been exhausted to a predetermined extent,and retaining means being arranged on both sides of the stub rollposition to support the spindle means on an outer surface of eachaxially extending portion of the spindle means, said spindle means beingheld in contact with a contact surface of said retaining means, whereinthe retaining means are arranged for simultaneous release of the spindlemeans when the dispenser is opened.
 2. The dispenser according to claim1, wherein the retaining means are arranged to support the rotatablespindle means as long as the roll is located in the stub roll position.3. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the retaining means arearranged to release the spindle means when a dispenser cover is movedfrom a closed to an open position.
 4. The dispenser according to claim1, wherein the spindle means comprise a pair of adapters joined alongthe central axis of a roll.
 5. The dispenser according to claim 1,wherein the spindle means comprise separate adapters inserted into eachend of a roll.
 6. The dispenser according to claim 5, wherein thespindle means comprise adapters inserted into each end of a corelessroll.
 7. The dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the spindle meanscomprise adapters inserted into each end of a roll provided with a splitcore.
 8. The dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the spindle meanscomprise adapters inserted into each end of a roll provided with a solidcore.
 9. The dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the spindle meanscomprise adapters adhesively attached to each end of a coreless or solidcore roll.
 10. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein a second rollis located in a reserve position above said dispensing position.
 11. Adispenser for rolls of flexible sheet material, each of said rollshaving ends and spindle means inserted into each end of said rolls, saidspindle means extending axially outwardly beyond the ends of said rolls,one of said rolls comprising a first roll wherein the first roll islocated in a dispensing position, the dispenser comprising a stub rollposition arranged to receive the first roll after the first roll hasbeen exhausted to a predetermined extent, and retaining means beingarranged on both sides of the stub roll position to support the spindlemeans inserted into each end of a roll, wherein the retaining means arearranged for simultaneous release of the spindle means when thedispenser is opened, wherein the retaining means and the spindle meansare provided with cooperating interlocking surfaces.
 12. The dispenseraccording to claim 11, wherein the retaining means comprise a keyed slothaving a cross-sectional shape corresponding at least in part to anaxial cross-sectional shape of a spindle means.
 13. The dispenseraccording to claim 12, wherein the retaining means comprises a keyedslot arranged to support a spindle means provided with an axially inner,cylindrical section and an axially outer, enlarged section.
 14. Adispenser for rolls of flexible sheet material, each of said rollshaving ends and spindle means inserted into each end of said rolls, saidspindle means extending axially outwardly beyond the ends of said rolls,one of said rolls comprising a first roll wherein the first roll islocated in a dispensing position, the dispenser comprising a stub rollposition arranged to receive the first roll after the first roll hasbeen exhausted to a predetermined extent, and retaining means beingarranged on both sides of the stub roll position to support the spindlemeans, wherein the retaining means are arranged for simultaneous releaseof the spindle means when the dispenser is opened, wherein the retainingmeans comprise a pivotable lever on either side of the stub rollposition.
 15. The dispenser according to claim 14, wherein the leversare connected by a transverse bar parallel to the roll axis.
 16. Thedispenser according to claim 14, wherein the levers are arranged to beactuated by gravity to release the spindle mean.